Machine for repairing knitted fabrics



June 23, 1931. J. s. PECKER 1,811,329

MACHINE FOR RlPAIRING KNITTED FABRICS Filed April 10, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet l INV R. W

ATTORNEY June 23, 1931. J. s; PECK ER 1,311,329

MACHINE FOR REPAIRING KNITTED FABRICS Filed April 10. 1929 s Sheets-Sheet 2 A TTORNEY June 23, 1931. 5 PECKER 1,811,329

MACHINE FOR REPAIRING KNITTED FABRICS Filed April 10, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORN EY Patented June 23, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOSEPH s. PEOKEE, 'OE PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ssIG oE. To PATENT DEVELOPMENT 00., A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA MACHINE Eon REPAIRING KNITTED FABRICS Atpiicatioa filed April 10, 1929. Serial No. 354,134.

This invention relates to machines for re pairing knitted fabrics.

The object of the present invention is to m provide a simple, practical and eflicient machine'of strong, durable and comparatively inexpensive construction designed particularly for mending the ladder-like runs in silk stockings and capable of enabling a v, silk stocking to be readily placed and propis erly held in position to be operated on by a single needle, and of automatically feeding the stocking in a direction longitudinally of the run to be mended, during the mending operation. j

A further object of the invention is to equip themachine with means for readily adjusting the needle to vary the length of the reciprocation thereof to adapt the needle H to the "character of the-stocking or other '20 knitted fabric, so that there will be no liability of the needle exerting excessive strain on a delicate thread, whereby the liability of breaking a thread during the mending operation will be reduced to a minimum.

'With these and Other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and set forth in the 8 0 claims hereto appended, it being understood that various changes inthe form, size, and minor details of construction, within the scope of the claims, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the inven- 85 tion or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a plan view of a stocking mending machine constructed in accordance wvith this invention.

illustratingthe diiferent positions of the needle with relation to. the thread during a single operation of the machine.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged view of the broken fabric, showing the ladder-like run and the last perfect loop. I

Fig. 12 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the line 12-12 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 13 is a detail plan view of the guide rolls, the foot and the lever which carries the same.

Fig. 14 is a detail perspective view of the vertically reciprocating needle bar. I

In the accompanying drawings, in which is illustrated the preferred embodiment of the invention, the stocking mending machine comprises in its construction a single vertically movable needle bar 1 mounted in a hollow head 2 of a tubular or hollow arm 3 of a suitable frame 4, which may be constructed of any suitable material and can be mounted upon, a table or other suitable support (not shown) in any desired manner, as will be readily understood. Thehead 2 is provided at its top and bottom with vertically aligned guide openings 4' through which the needle bar slides, and the latter is equipped at its lower end with a needle 5 jdetachably secured in a socket 6 of the needle bar by a set screw 6. In practice, the head 2 will be of a sectional character to enable the parts to be readily assembled, and the needle bar 1 is provided with a hori Zontally projecting arm 7 which is engaged by a coiled spring 8 for yieldably moving the needle bar downwardly. The coiled spring 8 is arranged on an adjusting screw 9 and is interposed between the arm 7 and the upper wall of the chamber of the hollow I head, and the screw, which is threaded into thetop of the head at 10, is provided at its upper end with a groove 11 adapted to receive a screw driver by means of which the screw is adjusted to position a collar 12 at the proper elevation for limiting the downward movement of the needle 5. The head 12, which. is preferably secured on a reduced terminal portion of the screw 9 by a pin 13 or other suitable fastening means, terms a stop or abutment for the arm 7 0f and while it will move the needle bar downwardly the full length of its stroke, the sprlng 8 Wlll not interfere with the shortening of the downward movement of the needle bar as would be the lease were theneedle bar,

positively actuated in such downward move.

ment;

' The needle and needle bar are moved upwardly by means of an eccentric roller 14- mounted on a head or collar 15 and engaging a horizontalzshoulder 16 preferably formed by an enlargement 17 of the needle bar 1. The enlargementl'l is preferablytapered, as

illustrated in Figs} 3 and 14 of thedrawings, but any other 'configuration may, of course, be employed, and the horizontal shoulder 16, against which the eccentric roller 14 abuts, may be formed in any other desired manner. The collar or head 15 is mounted on one end of a horizontal'shaft 18 journaled'in suitable bearings 19 and 20 of the arm 3 of the frame of themachine, and preferably provided at: the rear end with a combined hand andfly wheel 21 of the ordinary construction. The shaft also has mounted on it a grooved pulley 22 preferably formed integral with the hand wheel 21 and receiving abelt 23' which is also arranged on a grooved pulley 24 of the power shaft 25 of an electric motor 26' by means of which power is applied to the shaft 18 for .rotating the same and actuating the needle bar. VVhenthe shaft 18 is rotated the eccentric roller, when the same moves upwardly, lifts the needle bar and the spring moves the needle bar downwardly during the downward movement of the eccentric roller. Any other suitable eccentric connection may, of course, be employed for actuating the needle bar. In practice, the speed of the motor will be controlled by a suitable treadle-operated rheostat, so that the needle bar and needle will bereciprocatedvertically at the desired speed. v

The needle is provided at its lower end with'a hook 27 and it has a swinging latch 28 pivoted at 29 above the book, as clearly shown in Figs. 6 to 10, inclusive, in which are illustrated thevarious steps of mending a ladder-like run in silk stockings. When thepivoted latch 28 is open, it exposesthe hook 27, and when the latch is closed it covers the throat or opening, leading into the hook andforms an eye. The last perfect loop 30 ofthe fabric 31, is placed in the, hook 27;,as illustrated in Fig. 6 of the drawings, and as the needle descends the loop 30 slides upwardly on the shank of the needle to the position illustrated in Fig. 7- 0f the drawings, opening thelatch and moving up on the needle until the latch 28 is released, as illustrated in Fig. 7. Thelatch when released drops by gravity and falls over the next cross thread 32 in the broken fabric shown in Fig. 11. The loop 30 remains on the shank of the; needle, and as the needle rises the hook 27 catches the thread 32, as illustrated in Fig. 9, and the latch closes over the hook, forming an eye encasing or enclosing and confining the thread 32, as shown in Fig. 10. The thread 32 is then pulled up through the loop 30, forming another loop, and this process is continued until all of the cross threads are looped back into the fabric.

The stocking is fed forward during the said operation by feeding mechanism comprising a pairo'f endless chains composed of similar links, 33 arranged on sprocket wheels 34 and 3 5. The sprocket wheels 34 and 35 are arranged, inv pairs and are mounted on transverse shafts 36 and 37 journaled'in suitable bearings of a lower arm 38 of the frame of the machine.

'The lower arm 38 is located belowv the upper hollow arm 3 and is provided with spaced parallel side portions, and is covered by a suitable casing 39 of sheet metal or other suitable material, which houses and protects the mechanism of the lower arm 38 over which the stocking to be mended is placed. The links of the upper flight of the sprocketchains move over lower supporting guides 40 having horizontal upper linksupportingfianges 41 and located at and extending longitudinally of the center of the space betweenthe sides of the lower arm. The lower guides 40, which are spaced apart to provide an intervening space 42 for the pasasge of the needle, maintain the links of the upper flight of the chains in a straight horizontal position while passing beneath the needle arm, and prevent any sagging of the links. The links, which have transverse ribs 43, are provided along their inner side edges with atoothed gauge 44 consisting of't-apering upwardly projecting lugs formed integral with the ribs 43 and adapted to extend between the threads of a run in asilk stocking or other piece of fabric, whereby the threads which are to be looped in the mending of the fabric are maintained in proper spaced relation so as to be in position .to be operated 'on by. the needle 5. The links are hinged together at theirend portions-by suitable transverse pins or pivots 45 which pass through registering perforations of side flanges 46 0f the links, and connecting plates47 whichare located at the inner faces of the side flanges of the links. The links are provided at their inner sides with lateral extensions 48 which project over and slide along the horizontal vdricalin cross section, and present rounded upper faces and intervening thread-receiving grooves, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 5 of the drawings. The stocking to be mended is drawn over thelower arm and the run is arranged on the toothed gauge 44 formed by the projecting lugs of the links. Thestoclzing is held down in. proper position upon the upper ight of the sprocket chains by means of upper guides 49 and guide rolls- 50 provided at their peripheries with teeth 51 consisting of transverse ribs extending across the peripheries of the rolls and cooperating with the ribs 43 of the links. Each guide 49 consists of a horizontal foot having an upwardly curved terminal portion and preferably provided with an attaching portion 52 secured to the front end of a lever 53011 which the guiderolls 59 are also secured. The lever 53 is fulcrumed intermediateits ends at 54, and is provided with a shaft 55 upon which the guide rolls are mounted. The upper guidesii) form foot which engages the stocking and main tains'it in proper position during the mending operation, and the rolls 50 assist in guiding and feeding the stocking during the passage of the same beneath the needle.

A step by step feeding movement is imparted to the endless chains by ratchet mechanism comprising an oscillating lever 56 pivoted at one end on a transverse shaft 57 upon which is mounted a ratchet wheel '58 and a pinion 59. The shaft 57 is journaled in suitable bearings with the lower arm, and the pinion 59 meshes with a gear wheel 60, keyed or otherwise secured to the shaft 36, to which the sprocket wheel 34 is also keyed.

The lever 56 extends longitudinally from the lower arm and is connected by a rod 61 with an eccentric 62 mounted on the shaft 18, whereby .when the shaft 18 is rotated, oscillating movement will be transitted to the lever 56. The lever 56 carries a pawl 63 pivoted to the lever 56 at the lower edge thereof by a suitable pin or pivot 64 and. maintained in engagement with the rachet wheel 58 by a spring 65 which may be a coiled spring, as illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings, but any other form, of spring or yieldable means may be employed for maintaining the pawl 63 in engagement with the ratchet wheel. When the lever 56 is moved upwardly by the eccentric 62 of the shaft 18, the ratchet wheel will be rotated a distance equal to the throw of the oscillation, and when the lever 56 moves downwardly the pawl will close over the ratchet wheel 58 and the latter will not be rotated during such movement. The feeding mechanism thus moves the chains step by step in the direction of thearrow A in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

V The upper guides and the guide rolls are on and removed from the lower arm. The

rearwardly extending arm of the lever 53 is connected by a rod 67 with a suitable treadle (not shown) for enabling the forwardly extending arm of the lever 53 and the guiding means carried thereby to be raised and lowered by the operator.

While the machine is designed particularly for use in repairing the runs in silk stockings, it will be understood that it may be employed for repairing various other knitted fabrics and is not limited to repairing stockings. One form of needle is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, but various other forms of needles may be employed, whether provided with latches or of a construction not employing latches.

The needle, which is held in position by the knurled head set screw 6, is vertically adjustable in the socket 6 in the lower end of the vertically reciprocating needle bar, for the purpose of arranging the needle in proper position with relation to the stitch and to the fabric to be repaired.

The knurled head set screw performs the double function of securely holding the needle in the socket of the vertically reciprocating needle bar, and of rendering the needle adjustable with respect to the needle bar.

What is claimed is:

1. A machine for mending runs in fabrics, including a vertically reciprocating needle bar provided with a needle having means for looping the threads of a run in a fabric, and means for reciprocating the needle bar comprising an eccentric device arranged to positively actuate the needle bar in an upward direction, and yieldable means for moving the needle bar in a clownward direction.

2. A machine for mending runs in fabrics, including a vertically reciprocating needle bar provided with a needle having means for looping the threads of a run in a fabric, and means for reciprocating the needle 'bar comprising an eccentric device arran ed to positively actuate the needle bar in an upward direction, yieldable means for moving the needle bar in a downward direction, and an adjusting device cooperating with the yield able means for limiting the downward movement of the needle bar.

3. A machine for mending runs in fabrics,

needle bar in an upward direction, yieldable means for moving the needle bar in a downward direction, and an ad usting screw pro-.

' vided with a relatively fixed stop arranged to be engaged by the needle bar, said screw being adjustable to limit the downward movement of the needle bar.

4. A machine for mending runs in fabrics, including a vertically reciprocating needle bar provided with a needle having means for looping the threads at a run in a fabric, said needle bar being provided with a shoulder and having a projecting arm, an eccentric arranged to engage the needle bar beneath. the the shoulder for moving the needle barupwardly, an adjusting screw extending through the arm of the needle and provided with a relatively fixed stop arranged to be engaged by the said arm to limit the downward movement of the needle bar, and yieldable means for moving the needle bardownwardly. j

5. A machine for menning runs in fabrics, including a vertically reciprocating needle bar provided with a needle having means for looping the threads at a run in a fabric, said needle bar being provided with a shoulder and having a projecting arm, an eccentric arranged to engage the needle bar beneath the shoulder for moving the needle bar upwardly, an adjusting screw extending through the arm of the needle and provided with a relatively fixed stop arranged to be engaged by the said arm to limit the movement of theneedle bar, and a coiled spring disposed on thescrew and engaging the arm of the needle bar for moving the, latter downwardly.

6. A machine for mending runs in fabrics, including a vertically reciprocating needle bar provided with a needle having means for looping the threads of a run in a fabric, means for positively moving'the needle bar in an upward direction, yieldable means for moving the needle bar in a downward direction, and a device arranged adjacent to the needle bar and provided with a stop disposed to be engaged by the needle bar to limit'movement of the needle bar in the downward direction.

7. A machine for mending runs in'fabrics, including a vertically reciprocating needle bar provided with a needle having means for looping the threads'of a' run in a fabric, means for positively moving the needle bar in an upward direction, yieldable means for moving theneedle barin a downward direction, and a device having a relatively fixed stop arranged to be engaged by the needle bar. 7

8. Afmachine for mending runs in fabrics, including a frame having a hollow arm, a reciprocating needle bar slidable in said arm and provided with means for looping the threads of a run in a fabric, a shaft rotatably mounted in said arm and having operative threads of a run in a fabric, a shaft rotatably mounted in said arm and havin operative connection with the needle bar for positively moving the needle bar in an upward direction, yieldable means for moving the needle bar in a downward direction,and a device cooperating with the yieldable means for limiting the downward movement of the needle bar.

10. A machine for mending runs in fabrics, including a frame having a hollow arm, a reciprocating needle bar slidable in said arm andprovideclwith a needle having means for looping the threads of a run in fabric, means for positively moving the needle bar in an upward direction, yieldable means for moving the needle bar in a downward direction, and an adjusting screw disposed in said arm in parallelism with the needle bar cooperating with said yieldable means, and provided with a stop arranged to be engaged by the needle bar to limit downward movement of the needle bar.

11. A machine for mending runs in fabrics, including a vertically reciprocating means for looping the threads of a run in a fabric, means for reciprocating the-needle bar comprising an eccentric device arranged to positively actuate the needle bar in an upward direction, yieldable means for moving the needle bar in a downward direction, and means to limit the downward movement of the needle bar. I

12. A machine for mending runs in fabrics including a frame having a hollow arm provided with a hollow'head at its outer end, a reciprocating needle bar slidable through said head and provided with a needle having means for looping the threads of a run in a fabric, meansextending into the hollow head and operatively connected with the needle bar to positively move the needle bar in an upward direction, yieldable means in said head to move the needle bar in a downward direction, and a device located in said head and provided with a stop moving the needle bar in a downward direction.

14. A machine for mending runs in fabrics including a frame having a hollow arm provided with a hollow head at its outer end, a reciprocating needle bar slidable through said head and provided with a needle having means for looping the threads of a run in a fabric, the needle bar having a shoulder on one side and a bifurcation on the other side, a device located in the head for coaction with the shoulder on the needle bar to positively move the needle bar in an upward direction, an adjusting screw suspended from the top of said hollow head and extending through the bifurcation of said arm, a spring encircling the screw between the top of the head and said arm for moving the needle bar downwardly, said screw having a stop arranged to be engaged by said arm to limit the downward movement of the needle bar.

15. A machine for mending runs in fabrics, including a reciprocating needle bar provided with means for looping the threads of a run in a fabric, the needle bar having a lateral projection, means for reciprocating the needle bar, and means for limiting reciprocating movement of the needle bar in one direction, including a suspended stop offset with relationto reciprocating movementsof the needle bar and arranged to be engaged by the said lateral projection of the needle bar.

16. A machine for mending runs in fabrics, including a reciprocating needle bar provided with means for looping the threads of a run in a fabric, means for reciprocating the needle bar, and means for limiting reciprocatory movement of the needle bar in one direction including a screw arranged in parallelism with the needle bar and provided with a laterally projecting stop arranged to be engaged by the needle bar. 17. A machine for mending runs in fabrics, including a reciprocating needle bar provided with means for looping the threads of a run in a fabric, means for reciprocating the needle bar, the needle bar having a laterally projecting arm, and means for limiting movement of the needle bar in one clirection, including an adjustable element arranged adjacent the needle bar and provided with a stop arranged to be engaged by the said arm of the needle bar.

18. A machine for mending runs in fabrics, including a frame having a hollow arm, a reciprocating needle bar slidable in said arm and provided with means for looping the threads of a run in a fabric, a shaft rotatably mounted in said arm and having operative connection with the needle bar for positively moving the needle bar in an upward direction, yieldable means for moving the needle bar in a downward direction,

means for rotating said shaft, and means for feeding the fabric to the looping means in timed relation to the up and down movements of the needle bar.

19. A machine for mending runs in fabrics, including a vertically reciprocating needle bar provided with a needle having means for looping the threads of a run in a fabric, means for reciprocating the needle bar, said needle bar having a lateral projection intermediate its ends, means for limiting movement of the needle bar in one direction including a suspended stop arranged to be engaged by said laterally directed projection of the needle bar, and means for feeding the fabric to the looping means in timed relation to the reciprocating movements of the needle bar.

20. A machine for mending runs in fabrics, including a vertically reciprocating needle bar provided with a needle having means for looping the threads of a run in a fabric, means for positively moving the needle bar in an upward direction, and yieldable means for moving the needle bar in a downward direction.

21. A machine for mending runs in fabrics including a vertically reciprocating needle bar provided with a needle having means for looping thethreads of a run in a fabric, the needle bar having a laterally directed projection, a shaft rotatably mounted on the machine and having operative engagement with said projection of the needle bar for moving the needle bar in one direction, the needle bar having a second laterally directed projection disposed on the side thereof opposite the first mentioned lateral projection, and means engageable with the second mentioned lateral projection of the needle bar for moving the needle bar in the opposite direction.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature, this 26th day of March,

JOSEPH S. PEGKER. 

